Nov. 05--Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) and Assemblyman Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo) are running neck-and-neck in Ventura County.
National Democrats fought hard to try to keep the post they won two years ago, when Brownley beat a seasoned Republican after the retirement of Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) in what was then a newly redrawn district.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, House Majority PAC and other interest groups put some $3 million into campaigns supporting Brownley or opposing Gorell, a military veteran.
Generally viewed as a political moderate, Gorell was portrayed by Brownley supporters as too extreme for the 26th Congressional District.
Gorell also was outspent by Brownley, by $2.3 million to about $1 million, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission last month.
But the race was considered a tossup by most analysts, and former President Bill Clinton came to the district last week to headline a get-out-the-vote rally for Brownley and some other Democrats in tight congressional races.
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